Canada’s National Indigenous Peoples Day, formerly called National Aboriginal Day, is held annually on June 21 to celebrate the unique heritage, diverse cultures, and outstanding achievements of the nation’s Aboriginal peoples. www.timeanddate.com/holidays/canada/national-aboriginal-day
The 2020 Indspire Awards ceremony, filmed earlier in Ottawa at the Ontario National Arts Centre will be broadcast on APTN, CBC, CBC Radio, and CBC GEM on Sunday, June 21, 2020, at 8:00 pm / 8:30 pm NT. Celebrating its 27th year, the Indspire Awards continues to bestow the highest honour on Indigenous Peoples. Over the years, 373 First Nations, Inuit, and Metis have been recognized for their outstanding achievements.
Eleven awards of the 2020 recipients have made significant contributions in the fields of education, art, culture, business, health, law, sports, and public service within Canadian society. These honourees exemplify Indigenous excellence. Their personal stories and careers inspire, uplift, and educate us about the tremendous contributions Indigenous people make to our country.
Three Youth Award winners are also being honoured for their accomplishments, serving as role models to other First Nations, Inuit, and Métis youth in their communities and across Canada.
Jeanette Corbiere is the recipient of this year’s Lifetime Achievement Award. For more than fifty years, she has championed causes that have resonated across Canada and beyond. She lost her Indigenous status according to Section 12 of the Indian Act when she married her non-Indigenous husband in 1970. She challenged this decision at the Supreme Court of Canada in 1973 under the reasoning that it discriminated by gender. Although unsuccessful, her action led the way for subsequent challenges and was finally overturned in 1985.
“In all they do, these individuals are deeply inspirational, and as leaders in their respective fields, they are motivating young Indigenous people to strive for success.” Roberta Jamieson, President, and CEO of Indspire and Executive Producer of the Indspire Awards.
From past experience, Sunday’s programming promises to be a celebration of culture showcasing the diversity of Indigenous peoples in Canada including performances by Canada’s biggest names in Indigenous entertainment.
Each of us has the opportunity to celebrate National Indigenous Peoples Day by tuning in to the 2020 Indspire Awards (APTN, CBC, CBC Radio and CBC GEM). We will witness the superb contributions that Indigenous people are making across our country. https://indspire.ca/events/indspire-awards
- Submitted by Sister Nancy Wales, csj